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Fiancee of slain Giffords staffer: Ban high-capacity gun clips

The fiancee of a congressional staffer killed along with five others in the shooting that severely injured U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords urged state lawmakers Tuesday to ban gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

Authorities said Jared L. Loughner, who is charged in last month's shootings in Tucson, used a high-capacity magazine to fire 31 shots in 15 seconds from a pistol he purchased legally.

"Extended magazine clips are currently an easily accessible weapon for troubled individuals to use in mass murder," said Kelly O'Brien, joined at a news conference by the parents of Gabriel Zimmerman, her fiance. "That is what happened on Jan. 8, and that is how Gabe was killed. This must not be allowed to happen again."

Rep. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, has authored HB 2711, which would reclassify magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds as prohibited weapons. As such, their manufacture, sale and possession would be a felony.

"We can't completely stop all instances as horrible as Jan. 8, but this common-sense bill would limit the carnage if it happens," Farley said.

Authorities said Jared Loughner used 31-bullet clip attached to a 9 mm Glock pistol and was trying to load another clip when bystanders tackled him.

1 comment on this story

The tools used to destroy lives are not the issue here, but the motivations. Wetter it be poverty, ignorance, or mental health issued that drives a person to use various tools to do harm, removing the tools does nothing more than make it less efficient when these folk go to do harm.
An analogy; if trucks were being used to run down crowds, this would be like asking the state to do away with four wheel drive, as the extra traction allowed the perpetrator to do more harm faster.
While this would also be true, it would be a bit ridiculous. Let’s focus our legislative efforts on solving the actual problems these people suffer, rather than putting a band-aid on the symptoms by taking away some of their tools.
I have no issue with the ban on high-cap mags, BTW, my issue is with the energy and resources spent on banning them instead of being spent on curing the ills that make banning them an issue.

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